Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
12+ Years of Art: My Honest Supply Recommendations
22
items I’ve been passionate about art since I was 12. After experimenting with many different products, I’m sharing my honest reviews here
Sections
2
Traditional Supplies
Digital Art Tools
Traditional Supplies
10+ years with this paper and still my favorite!
Pros: Never lets me down — love the multimedia sketchbook.
Cons: None if you use the right media.
Affordable + beginner-friendly
Canson Paper 9/10
I’ve relied on this for more than 6 years.
Pros: Excellent for line art with a great range of sizes.
Cons: Prone to occasional smudging.
Overall: An affordable, beginner-friendly option
Pigma Micron Pens 9/10
I’ve been using these for over 10 years!
Pros: My absolute favorite — the white is super pigmented and perfect for highlights. Plus, there are even sparkly ones!
Cons: Honestly none — these are the best white highlight pens I’ve ever used.
Overall: A...
Gelly Roll Pens 10/10
This was the first company to send me their acrylic paint markers.
Pros: Vibrant colors, smooth application, and a tidy experience. The included box was well-designed.
Cons: Paint ran out after roughly 2 hours of coloring, and color consistency varie...
Acrylic Paint Markers 7/10
10+ years with these markers!
Pros: Perfect colors and pigment.
Cons: Pricey.
Overall: Expensive but totally worth it — I regret using them too early in my art journey
Copic Markers 10/10
I’ve been using these for over 10 years! Another product I wish I’d saved for later in my art journey.
Pros: Gorgeous colors and easy blending.
Cons: 0 CONS
Overall: Not too pricey and a great value for high-quality colored pencils
Prisma colored pencils 10/10
The best acrylic paints I’ve ever used! I first got to try these back in high school.
Pros: High quality and quick-drying.
Cons: None!
Overall: They’re pricey, but totally worth the investment — I miss using them every day
Blick Acrylic Paint 10/10
Okay, I know I gave these a high review, but hear me out — for being super cheap acrylic paints, they’re seriously the best!
Pros: Great pigment.
Cons: Texture can be a bit inconsistent, and coverage isn’t perfect.
Overall: Still, these are the best ...
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints 7/10
I love this marker! The brush tip lets you create smooth line art, from thin to thick lines.
Pros: Perfect pigment and super smooth.
Cons: Can get damaged easily if not handled carefully.
Overall: An affordable marker that delivers
Faber-Castell Marker 9/10
I used this paper during life drawing sessions.
Pros: Sturdy, thick sheets with ample space for drawing.
Cons: Binding is weak, causing pages to separate.
Overall: Premium sketch paper that’s great for life drawing, though the large size may not suit...
400 Series Drawing Sketchpad 9/10
An alternative to Copic markers that I’ve tried!
Pros: Affordable, vibrant colors, and dual tips.
Cons: Non-refillable and colors can bleed more than higher-end markers.
Overall: Great alcohol markers for beginners — not quite Copic quality, but defi...
Prismacolor Alcohol Markers 8/10
A small easel I picked up!
Pros: Foldable, compact, and adjustable to many positions.
Cons: Small size.
Overall: Worth the price — you get what you pay for
Tabletop Easel from Micheal’s 10/10
I honestly don’t recommend this bag.
Pros: Cheap, and the small pocket was nice with plenty of room.
Cons: The zipper broke on the first day, and after a few months in life drawing class the handles started ripping — and I was only carrying a sketchb...
Amazon Portfolio Bag 20x24 5/10
If you’re planning to work with colored pencils, these are a must!
Pros: Blends colors super smoothly….way better than using a white pencil.
Cons: Can smear easily when used with markers.
Every artist should try colored pencils at least once. Prismac...
Prismacolor Blending Pencils
Must have for traditional art | cleans messes smoothly without sticking or leaving residue on paper.
Pros: Touches up artwork perfectly.
Cons: May get dirty with frequent use and can sometimes smear; be sure to clean it regularly.
Faber Castell Kneadable Eraser 9/10
Gorgeous for life drawing. When angled just right, it creates thick, smooth lines or fine details, and allows for easy, fast shading.
Pros: Durable, long-lasting, and offers amazing depth.
Cons: Shrinks with heavy use and is easy to misplace. Also, ...
Compressed Charcoal Sticks 9/10
Digital Art Tools
Amazing program! I started off with this … and it’s definitely not beginner-friendly.
Pros: Tons of amazing tools, including 3D features….way more than Procreate.
Cons: The company can be frustrating — they’ve made some cash-grabby decisions. I’ve be...
Clip Studio Paint Pro 9/10
It’s a great app! But as someone who’s used Clip Studio, it does have some limitations.
Pros: Beginner-friendly and easy format.
Cons: Lacks some advanced features and content.
Overall: An amazing, affordable app for beginners. I actually use this mo...
Procreate 8/10
Amazing Drawing Tablet for the Price
Pros: Comes with extra pen nibs, minimal lag, and excellent synchronization.
Cons: Small size — otherwise no complaints.
Overall, this tablet offers great value. It’s easy to learn, feels professional, and I reco...
Wacom Intuos Tablet 10/10
The Best Tablet I’ve Used So Far
Pros: Smooth syncing, zero lag, and extremely lightweight/portable.
Cons: None.
While it’s a huge investment, purchasing this tablet was absolutely worth it. It’s replaced my computer for art.
iPad Air 13 inch 10/10
This Pen Has Made My Life So Much Easier
Pros: Long-lasting nib, easy charging, and a wide range of useful settings.
Cons: Pricey.
I truly love this pen — after a year the nib is still in great shape and it rarely lags. The price is high for a pen, ...
Apple Pen Pro 9/10
FireAlpaca is an amazing free drawing program for your computer.
Pros: No ads at all, plus really useful tools.
Cons: Pen pressure can be a bit unreliable at times.
I first learned digital art using FireAlpaca, and it’s fantastic for beginners with p...
FireAlpaca 7/10